Hair clipper



Sept. 24, 1929. J, DEAN l l 1,729,096

HAIR CLIPPER Filed March 7, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l n 6 /2 /3 8/6 2653/26 MM Sept, 24, 1929. J. DEAN 1,729,096

HAIR CLIPPER Filed March 7, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 iii@ 4 Patented Sept. 24, 1929 PATEN'I" OFFICE JOHN DEAN, F RACINE, WISCONSIN HAIR CLIPPER Application filed March 7,H

This invention provides a finger operated hairl clipper, as distinguished from the common hand operated hair clippers of commerce; and the objects and nature of the in vention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art in the light of the following description of the accompanying drawings that show what I now believe to be the preferred mechanical expression or embodiment of the invention from among other forms, constructions and arrangements within the spirit and scope thereof.

An object of the invention is to provide a hair clipper that can be carried and actuated by the fingers of either the right or left hand, that reduces tothe minimum tendency of the clipper to move or oscillate sidewise, that can beY easily actuated to cause rapid hair cutting movement ofthe reciprocatory cutting means and consequent rapid hair clipping, thereby reducing to the minimum the objectionable hair pulling caused by advancing theclipper faster than the hair is cut, and that can be made in smaller sizes than is possible with the common hand operated clippers which to be operable must be of a size to approximately fill the hand of the operator.

A further object .of the invention is to provide certain improvements instructure,

` arrangement and combination with the end in view of providing a novel and advantageous hair clipper. i v With the foregoing and other objects -in view, the invention consists in certain novel features in l construction, arrangement,

and/or combination, as more fully and particularly described and specified hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof Fig. 1 is a side eleva-tion of a hair clipper', embodying this invention, enlarged in size.

Fig. 2 is a rear end elevation.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section on the line 8 3, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4t is a section on the line 4-4, Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a cross section.

Fig. 6 is a cross section on the line 6.-6, Fig. 1.

|The supporting frame or body of the clip- .50 per comprises a strong box or housing having 1927. serial No. 173,477.

rigid flat paralleltopand bottom walls l, 2.; a rigidrvertical edge wall 3, joining the top and bottom walls and continuous around the box or housing from one front corner thereof to the opposite front corner thereof; anda short straight transverse vertical front wall 4L, depending from the top wall 1, and forming a cutter blade guiding and tension or pressure edge 5, and a central depending tenon 6.

The box or housing is open at the front end below the short front wall, and at the bottom from said frontend opening back to the front edge of the short bottomwall 2, tore ceive the cutting blades 7, 8, and permit the same to project from the front end of the housing in approximatecforward continuation thereof'.A The bottom or so-called comb plate or blade 8, is relatively large in length and width with respect to the reciprocatory -,70 top blade or plate 7, and the straight parallel transverse front edge portions of these blades are formed to provide transverserows of parallel forwardly projecting cooperating cutting teeth 9, those of the upper blade beveled `downwardly and forwardly, and

. those of the bottom blade beveled upwardly and forwardly. In the particular example illustrated of an embodiment o-frmy invention, thebottom blade orcomb plate 8. fills the bottom opening of the housing` and extends .forwardly through Vand beyond the open `front end of the housing, leaving a space between the top surface of plate 8 and they front wall 4, for the top blade 7, which rests and reciprocates on the `top surface of the front portion of blade 8, in the usual or any other suitable manner. The blade 7. extends rearwardly between the edge walls 3, under wall 4, into the front'portion of the housing above plate 8, and in length or transverse width is shorter than 'the width of `plate 8, and the dist-ance between housing edge walls 3, to permit the necessary transverse range of reciprocation on plate 8, to permit the hair cutting operation. The tenon 6, of the khousing depends through a vertical slot 11, in blade 7, and its more or less loosely in a mortise. in the plate 8, (Fig. 3), while ,the lower edge of Wall il, abuts the ist top surface of blade 7, and guides said blade in its straight line reciprocation.

The vertical rear edge of plate 8, abuts the front vertical edge of the short bottom wall 2, of the housing, While lthe parallel opposite front to rear or longitudinal vertical side edges of plate 8, fit the inner vertical surfaces of the parallel opposite side edge walls 3, ot the housing in vertical sliding relation. The bottom plate 8, is thusrcentered by and between said side walls 3, and preferably extends below the same to form the ,bottom wear or slide surface. 12, of the clipper, although I do not wish to so limit my present invention.

The cutting blades orfplates'7, 8, are held together under the desired tension and in operative relation, and the bottom plate 8, is held to the housing, by 'suitable means, although in the example illustrated, I show removable tension bolt 13, for this` purpose, lo'- cated approximately midway the length of plate 8, and extending upwardly through said plate and the housing, and on its longitudinally screw threaded upper end above the housing, having spring washer 14, bearing on the top surface of housing top wall, and finger nut 15, bearing on the washer. The vbolt extends removably through the approximate central portion of plate 8, and its head is countersunk in the under side thereof.

The top face of the rear end of plate 8, has what is approximately a rocking or fulcrum bearing against a Vsuitable fixed stop orabutment carried by the housing. For instance, I

show a vertical cylindrical stud 16, fixed toV the top wall 1, of the housing and depending therein'over the central portion of the rear end of plate 8, with the top face of said plate abutting the bottom end surface ofthe stud head. The plate 8, slides up and down between and guided by housing sidewalls 3, and in effect tulcrums on stop 16,'as the nut 15, is tightened and loosened to control the tension or engagement of the cutting teeth.

In the example illustrated, a spring 18, constantly acts on the reciprocatory blade 7, to yieldingly hold the same at and return the same to its limit of movement in one direction. In the drawings, I happen to show an expansion V-spring 18, within the housing' with one spring leg bearing against an end ol blade 7 and the other leg abutting the adjacent portion o'f' housing'edge wall 3, with the spring extending rearwardly on the comb plate 8, and housing bottom floor 2, andat its rear end fitted between wall 3 and a stop 19.

The clipper is provided with a handle by which the same can be held, directed and advanced by one or morefingers of either h and, and I here use-the term finger vin a generic sense to include thumb, YAdjacent to said handle, the clipper is provided with a finger actuated movable member by which the recipvrocatory cutting mechanism can be rapidly7 operated -through the medium ot a suitable power transmission.

In the particular example shown, said handle provides the clipper with a top finger hold fixed to or rigid with the housing, in the form of a Vertical transversely-open rigid linger ring, loop,or eye 20, arranged above the rear top portion of the housing, and formed with a short rigid vertical standard 21, depending from the finger ring and'at its bottom or lower end fixed tolthe top wall 1, of the housing, although I d-o not wish to so limit all features of' my invention. f

The clipper is 'provided with a top lingeractuat-ed cutter operating movable member 23, a'ccessible'to and capable of being operated by a finger' while other fingers 'of theV same hand are grasping the top hand hold and advancing and guiding the clipper. the specific example illustrated, without wishing to so limit the invention, the member 23, is in the form of an upstanding slide or reciprocatory push rod in front of the top linger hold or handle, and having a finger engaging head or push button 23a, at its upper end. This up wardly extending push rod 23, is guided by and slidable through a guide sleeve 29, in l'ront ot' and fixed to the ring 20, and/or its standard 21. In the form shown, the straight upstanding push rod 23, is inclined from the vertical, to locate the push button 23a, to one side of the vertical plane in which ring 20, is located, and the lower end of the push rod at the other side of said vertical plane, al-` though I do not wish to so limit the invention.

Suitable power transmission is provided between vsaid push 'rod and the blade 7, to utilize the tension of spring 18, to yieldingly uphold and return the push rod, and to 'rel ciproeate the blade against the spring tension. As an example, I show a horizontal rock shaft 24, operatively connected to blade .-7, and arranged longitudinally of the clipper and provided with a crank arm 24, project ing upwardly approximately at right angles to therlongitudinal axis of the push vrod, 23, and intersecting thesame. The push rod at its lower end is operatively coupled to said crank arm to convert rectilinear motion to rotary motion and vice versa, through'the .'.nediuni oi an eye 23'), in the lower end of the push rod through which the crank arm loosely extends andin which itis confined. A gear 25, ,is fixed on the rock shaft 24, and meshes with gear 26, located within the housing and mounted to rotate on stud 16, and this gear 26, is formed with concentric spur gear teeth 26a,meshing with pinion gear wheel 27, within the housing and mounted to rotate on tension bolt 13. This pinion 27, is vin constant mesh with the teeth of a straight rack 7a, formed in the transverse rear edge `of the reciliirocatory blade 7.

` In the particular example shown, Vthe base of the finger ring standard 21, lits on the top of the housing top wall 1, and is secured thereto, as. by machine screws 19 and 19a. rl`he base of standard 21, is hollow `to partially house the gear 25, and to provide bearings for the ,shaft 24, which shaft is elevated above the top wall 1, of the housing, and projects forwardly fromustandard 21, and carries the crankv 23", in front of the standard. The top wall 1,`is slottedr under the base ofstandard 21for the passageof gear 25, to' gear 26, within the housing.

The pinion 27, is removably mounted on bolt 13, and a spacing washer 27, is removably located on said bolt between pinion 27, y

and the under surface of the housing top wall.

The top linger hold can be grasped by the thumb and second linger, say of the right hand, and the clipper can be thus held and .advanced while the index lingerof the saine bears down on the push button 23a, to cause rapid reciprocation of the cutter blade 7, or t-he index linger, say ofr the left hand, can grasp the top finger hold as by extending through the ring to advance, guide and hold the clipper while the thumb of that hand engages the push buttonV 3, to operate the reciprocatory cutting mechanism. The top linger hold enables the operator to easily guide and advance the clipper on a straight course and press the same to the skin or "scalp, while operating the movable linger actuated member, without tending tosliift or oscillate the clipper sidewise or laterally. In holding and advancing the clipper by the thumb and second linger, of' the right hand, for instance, said lingers can pinch the ring SEO, and meet through the same while the index finger actuates the reciprocatory cutting mechanism through the medium of the push rod, push button 23, allwithout tendency to laterally deflect or oscillate the clipper while advancing.

By providing the short stroke linger actuated movable operating member, such as 23, for the reciin'ocatory cutting mechanism, I ani enabled to cause very rapid cutter blade reciprocation, and consequently the clipper can advance with corresponding rapidity without objectionable hair pulling.

For instance, through i suitable power transmission, generally of the type illustratcd, I can secure rapid reciprocation of the cutter blade, on each stroke bringing each tooth thereof into cutting cooperation with tivo teeth of the comb platel` by short strokes of the ushV rod 2?, each stroke about three-eighths of an inch in length.

rI'he accompanying drawings show the clipper eiaggerated in size for purposes of illustration,y while as a matter of fact, I am enabled to produce my clippers in very small .sizes as Vcoupired to the hand clippers .in use which to be operative must be large another lin ger .enoughto constitute a handful, to enable the handr to grasp and operate the same.

This case is a continuation in part of my companion application Ser. No. 133,149, filed Sept. 2, 1926 for l-Iair clippers.

The disclosure hereof is merely illustrative for purposes of explanation, as it is obvious that various changes, departures, and modifications might be resorted to without' departing from therspirit and scope tof myz invention as defined bythe following claims, and henceI do not wish to limit my invention to the specific disclosure;

1. A hair clipper having reeiprocatory hair 1f cutting means embodying cooperating blades raving front cutting teeth; said clipper provided with a centrally arranged fixedtop linger ring arranged to receive one or more fingers of either the right or left hand 'forholding, advancing and guiding the clipper g' and with a finger-operated movable member operatively vconnected with said hair cutting means to actuate the same, said meinber Yarranged, with respect to said ring tof be operatively `moved by a free linger' of the hand having a linger or fingers engaged in grasping said ring.

2. A hair clipper having a fiat housing with a bottom opening, a comb blade fittedi in said opening between and centered by edge walls lof said housing, a reciprocatory cooperating top blade on the comb blade, said blades having forwardly projecting front cutting teeth, a `linger operated member carried by and exposed above said housing, power transmission connecting said member and the reciprocatory blade to actuu ate said blade and embodying a train of gearing and a crank connection, and a nger hold carried by the housing and arranged to receive one or more lingers of either hand for Iguiding and advancing the clipper while of the same hand operates said member. i

3. Incombination, a housing having a front end opening and a bottom opening; a Comb plate fitted within said bottom opening'and capable of vertical sliding movement guided by the adjacent walls of the Y housing; a reciprocatory blade on the comb plate and held to the plate by the front portion of the housing, the plate and blade projecting forwardly through said front end opening;a tension bolt connecting the plate and housing and having accessible adjusting means; an exterior finger hold fixed to the housing; land means for reciprocating said blade comprising spring means, a train ofA gearing in the housing and above said plate, andan exposed linger actuated operating member therefor, Y

4:, In combination; a housing; a bottom plate therefor; a reciprocatory blade conlined and. guidedbetween the top surface of thel plate and the front portion of the housing; a bolt holding said plate to the housing and determining the tension between the plate, blade and front portion of the housing; and linger actuated mechanism for reciprocating said blade comprising spring means, a train of gearing in the housing including means to convert rotary into rectilinear motion, meansto convert rectilinear into rotary motion, and a finger operated slide carried by and accessible at the exterior of the housing and adapted to be actuated by a finger of the hand guiding and advancing the housing.

5. In combination, a housing; a bottom plate therefor; a reciprocatory cutter blade between the front portions of the plate and housing; a finger ring upstanding from the housing; and finger-operated springpressed mechanism vfor reciprocating said blade comprising a linger operated movable member carried by said housing and exposed adjacent to said finger ring, and power transmission therefrom through the housing to said blade, said linger ring and finger operated member being so relativly arranged with respect to eachother and the housing that one or more fingers of either hand can guide and advance the housing while another finger of the same hand operates said member to reciprocate said blade.

6. In combination; a housing; a bottom comb plate therefor fitted between and guided by edge walls thereof; a reciprocatory blade on :said plate and between the front thereof and the front of the housing; said housing having a'depending stud against the lower end of which the rear portion of said plate abuts; a bolt rising from the intermediate portion of the plate through the housing and having adjusting means determining the pressure of the housing and plate on the blade; and finger operated actuating mechanism for reciprocating said blade comprising a finger operated movable member carried by` and exposed at the exterior of the housing, and power transmission therefrom to the blade including gears within the housing and mounted on said stud and bolt, respectively.

7. In combination, a housing; a bottom comb plate projecting forwardly from the housing and fitted. between and centered and guided by side and rear edge walls of the housing; said housing providing an abutment for the rear end portion of the housing; said plate bearing up against said abutment and having vertically slidable engagement with said walls, a reciprocatory blade on the top face of the front portion of the plate and held down thereto by the front end portion of the housing; 'a tension bolt rising from the intermediate portion of said plate and extending through the top housing wall and provided with accessible adjusting means, said bolt maintaining the assembly of housing, plate and blade and controlling the pressure of the plate and housing on the blade; and mechanism for relingers; said housing provided with a guideway; a finger-actuated slide pin reciprocatory in said guideway and havingan exposed finger engaging portion; a rock :shaft carried by the housing and provided with a crank arm operatively coupled to the :slide pin; and `a train of gearing operatively connecting said rock shaft to said blade andV extending through said housing. y

9. A hair clipper comprising a main supporting housing having longitudinal opposite edge walls and a transverse front dc-` pending guide edge and elongated depending tenon, a bottom cutter plate fitted within the housing between and centered by said edge walls and exposed at its under surface to engage the skin, a reciprocatory upper cutter plate having an elongated slot receiving :said tenen andv a top groove receiving said guide edge,fte1ision clamping means for holding together the plates and housing, said plates having straight transverse front rows of complementary cutting teeth, and operating means operatively coupled to said Lipper plate.

10. A hair clipper comprising a toothed comb plate; a toothed cutter blade; a housing having a bottom opening and comb plate centering walls and a front depending portion to hold the cutter blade to straight-line reciprocation at right angles to the lengths of the cooperating parallelk forwardly projecting teeth of the comb plate and cutter blade, said housing also providing ,annabutmena said comb plate fitted in said bottom opening of the housing centered'by and in sliding engagement with said walls with its rear portion bearing up against :said abutment, said blade fitting between the plate and housing and intermeshing with said front depending portion of the housing and held thereby to reciprocation in a line at right angles to the lengths of the cutterteeth; a clamping bolt in advance of said abutment and holding together the housing and plate and determining the pressure thereof on the blade; and blade actuating means.

Signed at Racine, Wisconsin, this 4th day of VMarch, 1927.

JQHN DEAN. 

